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Complications of Grief

Topic Overview

Complications that can develop from
grieving include depression, anxiety, suicidal
thoughts, and physical illness. If you or someone you know experiences any of
the following problems, contact a doctor or mental health
professional for counseling, medicine, or both.

Depression

Depression is the most common condition that can
develop when a person is grieving. Depression is common in adults who
experience a divorce or death of a spouse.

High levels of anxiety

Anxiety also is common during the grieving process.
But anxiety can last longer than expected. And it can also become intense
and include extreme guilt. Anxiety can:

Make you feel like you are losing control of
your emotions. Overwhelming fear is also common.

Trigger episodes
of physical symptoms (anxiety attacks) that you might mistake for a heart
attack. During an anxiety attack, you are likely to have a feeling of intense
fear or terror, difficulty breathing, chest pain or tightness, heartbeat
changes, dizziness, sweating, and shaking.

Suicidal thoughts

Sometimes when grieving, people have thoughts of ending their own
lives. If you have been depressed or have had thoughts of suicide in the past, you
may be vulnerable to having suicidal thoughts while grieving.

Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you or someone you know is
considering
suicide.

Any thoughts of suicide must be taken seriously. The threat of
carrying out the plan is very real if a person is thinking about
suicide and:

Has the means (such as weapons or medicines)
available to harm himself or herself or do harm to another person.

Has set a
time and place to end his or her own life.

Thinks that there is no other way
to end his or her pain.

Physical illness

Grieving stresses the body, weakens the
immune system, and in general makes us more prone to
illness, aches, and pains. People who have chronic medical conditions may have
a recurrence or their symptoms may get worse when they are grieving. Adults
who lose a loved one sometimes develop new health problems. Children can also have stress-induced physical problems while grieving, despite
their youth and apparent resilience.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

People who experience a traumatic loss are at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an
intense emotional and psychological response to a very disturbing or traumatic
event, such as a rape, assault, natural disaster, accident, war, torture, or
death. You can develop PTSD symptoms immediately following such an event. Or PTSD
may develop months or even years later.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder may include:

Persistent and painful re-experiencing of the
event through dreams (nightmares) or while awake
(flashbacks).

Complicated grief is different from post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). With PTSD, a person is anxious and fearful that the traumatic event
that caused the loss will occur again. In complicated grief, anxiety results
because the person is searching and yearning for his or her loved one.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of complicated grief, seek
help from a professional counselor specializing in grief counseling.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.